6 Amazing facts about Navratri everyone should know!
India is a country of joy and pleasure. This is a land full of different festivals of different cultures.
People of diverse cultures and communities celebrate their festivals here.
As India is famously known for it’s Hindu culture, it is also known for it’s festivals. There are
many popular festivals of India which are famous worldwide and celebrated all over the world.
One of these festivals is Navaratri or the festival of nine nights. In today’s blog post, I’m going to
tell you some amazing facts and secrets of Navratri which everyone should know.
The word Navaratri is made up of two words, “Nava” and “Ratri”. Nava means nine and Ratri
means night. So Navratri means the festival of nine auspicious nights.
This festival is celebrated every year, in the season of autumn which usually falls between
september to october.
It starts within the first two weeks of the month and ends on the ninth day from the start. The festival
is celebrated to give respect to the divine feminist power. On this festival, Goddess Durga and
her 9 forms are worshiped.
As Hinduism believes in equality, it strongly supports the feminist power. (Proud to be a hindu!!)
To give respect to women, Hinduism celebrates this festival. Navaratri is celebrated by Hindus,
Sikhs, and Jains.
WHO IS GODDESS DURGA?
Goddess Durga is said to be a form of Goddess Parvati who is the consort of Lord Shiva. She is
known by many names such as Amba, Ambika, Shakti, Chandi, Katyayani.
The most famous name of her is Mahisasura Mardini (killer of the demon bull).
According to scriptures, She possesses 9 forms. These 9 forms of her are worshiped over the
9 nights of Navratri.
Each form of her has a specific purpose and is worshiped for different reasons.
The first form of her is Shailputri. Shailputri means the daughter of Mountains. As she was the
daughter of Himavat, thus she got this name.
The second form of her is Brahmacharini. To get Lord Shiva as her husband, Parvati did a huge
penance. Thus she got this name as Brahmcharini which means ascetic.
The third form of her is Chandraghanta. As she adorns her forehead with a bell which resembles
half-moon. Hence she got the name Chandraghanta.
Fourth form of her is Kushmanda. Goddess Kushmanda is said to live inside the sun and provide
energy to the sun to glow. From this, she got the name Kushmanda.
The fifth form of her is Skandamata. Skanda is the name of Lord Kartikeya, the son of Parvati and
Shiva. As Parvati is the mother of Skanda, she got the name as Skandamata. Sixth form of Durga
is Katyayani. To kill the demon Mahisasura, she took birth as the daughter of Rishi Katyayan.
Hence she got the name Katyayani.
Seventh form of Devi Durga is Kalaratri. This is the most fierce form of Goddess Durga. When she
comes in anger, she takes the form of Kalaratri or the conqueror of Death.
Eighth form of Durga is Mahagauri. Goddess Durga is known for her extremely fair complexion.
Due to this, she is sometimes referred as Gauri or Mahagauri.
The ninth and last form of Durga is Devi Siddhidatri. She is known as the Goddess of powers and
provides the Siddhis to people. Thus she gets her name Siddhidatri.
STORY OF NAVRATRI
Mardini.
Once there lived a very evil demon called Mahisasura. His face very much looked like a bull. He
spread evil on the earth and was terrorizing the whole world with his might. He was so powerful
that he even defeated the Demi-Gods and captured Heaven.
The king of Demi-Gods, Lord Indra went to Mata Adishakti and asked her to help them by killing
that fierce demon. On asking Indra, Mata AdiShakti agreed and said that she will kill the demon
and get the world rid of his terror.
Mata Adishakti took birth in the house of Rishi Katyayan as her daughter. As she was the daughter
of Rishi Katyayan, she was named Katyayani after her father.
Then she fought with the Demon Mahisasura and killed her. Thus she came to be known as
Mahisasura Mardini or the Killer of the demon bull. The festival of Navratri began to be celebrated.
FACTS ABOUT NAVRATRI
Navaratri.
Ansha of Shiva. Actually the vehicle of Durga, the tiger is an ansha of Vishnu. Once upon a time,
it was becoming difficult for him to carry the weight of Durga. So he went to Lord Shiva and
asked him for help. So he said that when Durga will kill his Ansha, half of her weight will be on
Him, and half would be on you. Thus you will be freed of her weight. Such was the friendship of
Vishnu and Shiva.
2) The nine days of Navratri are divided further into 3 sets of 3 days. It is said that in the first 3
days, Goddess Parvati is worshiped to give strength. In the other 3 days, Goddess Lakshmi is
worshiped to give wealth. At last Goddess Saraswati is worshiped to give knowledge.
3) Navratri is followed by Dussehra. Dussehra is a festival celebrated to mark the victory of
Lord Ram against Ravana. It is said that in Navratri, Lord Rama worshiped Goddess Durga, on the
tenth day, he killed Ravana and won the battle.
4) Navratri is also said to be the season of Wars. As because during ancient and medieval times,
kings used to invite and fight other kings during this season. Because Goddess Durga, the
Goddess of Power and the warrior god lord Rama is worshiped during this season.
5) During Navratri season, Hindus grow the Jaw plant. It is said to be a symbol of Goddess Durga.
Also it is said to be the first crop to be grown on Earth. The Jaw plant is regarded as a symbol of
Goddess Durga.
6) It is said that Lord Rama, during the fight with Ravana, worshiped Goddess Durga. So that
Goddess Durga will fight on the side of him and He will be victorious. According to Ramayana,
he sacrificed his one eye to Goddess Durga. Seeing the devotion of Ram, She instantly appeared
and blessed him with victory.